Chris' Zombie Guide to Modes of Transportation - Airplanes

If you have ever seen the movie 2012, you will know that John Cusack's character drove a limo through the city of Los Angeles while it was being torn apart by a massive earthquake. However, what saved his life as well as the lives of his passengers was the ability for someone in his group to fly an aircraft. Of course, the pilot argued that he was only beginning his training on a single-engine aircraft but, nonetheless, he was able to get the plane started and airborne. Here are a few things you will need to consider when trying to fly one of these things mechanical contraptions in the event of an emergency.

Learning Curve

So you can drive a car--big deal! Driving a car is not the same as flying a plane. Unless you've already taken more than few live courses classes (and have it committed to long-term memory), I would rather take my chances on the ground with teams of zombies. You may even have a flight simulator program that allows you set up realistic fighter pilot controls but consider the following if you happen to find a spare fighter plane sitting around: 1) It sits only two people, 2) You must be fully aware of pre-flight processes before planning on taking off, and 3) How in hell are you going to land this thing?

Refueling

All airplanes require a specific kind of fuel. You're not just going to pull over to an Arco to get gas. You'll need to land at an airport, and even then, there is no guarantee there will be fuel available. If you do check, you'll need to get to the refueling pump and cut the lock, if necessary. As with any combustible material, be sure to practice safe fueling habits--you don't want to be blasting away at any zombies nowhere near the airplane--especially when you're refueling.

Risk

So you found a plane and you have an idea of where to go next. While we can talk all day about the risks, keep in mind that when you run out of fuel you will have no choice but to land. If you don't know how to land a plane, are you willing to risk the lives of you and your passengers on a potentially deadly crash landing? Weigh the risks as every situation will be different.

Whenever you leave solid ground you accept many inherent risks. Before taking a chance with an airplane, be sure you have the necessary knowledge to operate the craft you selected. Otherwise, you'll be better off staying on the ground and battling your way through the droves undead. So you're asking about a helicopter? I'll talk about that next time. Until next time, keep your feet on the ground!